THE MANAGEMENT of venues for Meetings Incentives Conferences and Events (MICE) is now required to file monthly reports to the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (DCTOO) to help the city government plan and support programs.
Under the Davao City Tourism Code Rule III, Section 7, the report shall be submitted every 10th day of the succeeding month.
In an advisory on June 2, 2022, published on its official Facebook Page, DCTOO urged the management of MICE venues and facilities to fill out the Mice event notice form after every event or every month.
The mandatory reporting supports the Joint Memorandum Circular no. 2021-001 of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Health or “Amended Guidelines Governing The Conduct Of Essential Meetings And Social Events In Areas Under General Community Quarantine”.
The memorandum outlines the venue set-up and venue cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation for the conduct of essential meetings and social events. Permitted essential meetings, according to this circular, are workshops, training, seminars, congresses, conferences, conventions, board meetings, colloquia, conclaves, symposia, company and government recognitions, and press conferences.
The permitted social events are debut and birthday parties, wedding ceremonies and receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers.
Section 13 of the memorandum circular states that venues catering to essential meetings and events shall comply with the relevant Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Guidelines, DOT, DTI, Department of Health, and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issuances on health and safety standards, as well as rules and regulations imposed by LGU having jurisdiction over the venue.
Section 14 of the same MC provides the requirement for compliance monitoring and Penalties.
DOT and DTI shall continue their strict compliance monitoring of the covered venues through its post-audit mechanism. Inspection by DOLE, DOH, and the LGU’s Health Office, as applicable, may also be conducted at any time.
Violation of the circular may subject the venue to the appropriate fines and penalties, including but not limited to prohibition against the further staging of events, temporary closure, and/or revocation of its DOT accreditation, under the relevant laws, and rules and regulations.
DCTOO head Generose Tecson said in an interview that failure to file a report will result in the non-renewal of a business permit.
